Lake Easter near Pleasant Hill: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Within Polk County, Iowa, you have Lake Easter. It sits in lake country bush country. It measures about 177 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 3.8 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Nearest place of any size is Pleasant Hill, 3.6 miles away. Des Moines is 4.5 miles and Carlisle 4.9 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Easter

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Polk County records list bluegill, green sunfish, channel catfish, common carp and black crappie among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Work Lake Easter in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 76°F in July and bottoms out near 20°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually goes in mid March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Open water usually runs from mid March until about mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That is the shape of the year on Lake Easter.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. The water sits inside or beside a mapped nature reserve, so expect additional rules. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Case Lake is 1.4 miles off. Where Lake Easter is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.